As in any complex culture, the Mayans developed a wide range of craft activities which were carried out by specialists. The most spectacular works are architectural, involving a high degree of organisation of the labour force, as well as of specialists in stone cutting, woodwork, stucco workers, and so on. Thus, we have buildings of impressive dimensions (up to sixty metres high in some cases), with their external faces worked in stucco with religious, mythological, or civic scenes and images, these being very difficult to maintain in tropical climates. Clear proof of this is the difficulty encountered even nowadays in keeping archaeological sites free of vegetation and in a good state of conservation.

The production of a stele in stone, or of a stucco-work drinking vessel with painted figures, destined for a royal tomb, involved the participation of several specialists. Once the form and size of the object was decided, the figurative decoration was drawn by an artist and, if hieroglyphics were included, the task was completed by another person.

Along with architects, sculptors, ceramic workers and weavers, we find other specialists such as obsidian, jade, flint and silex cutters, designers of plume decorations made from different birds’ feathers, wooden hearth makers, etc. In order to carry out such activities, normally considered as the lesser arts, a whole network of commercial relations was required in order to supply the raw materials. The majority of these objects form part of the furnishings of the tomb.

Today, a good part of this craft tradition has endured, so that it is still possible to find very well-made imitations of the original objects.